Editing Tim Duncan (section)

====Leader of the Spurs (2003–2007)====
[[File:Duncan Wallace.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Duncan backing down [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] in a 2005 game]]
On July 16, 2003, Duncan signed a seven-year, $122 million contract with the Spurs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2003 |title=Duncan agrees to seven-year deal with Spurs |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2003/0716/1581549.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619030542/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/2003/0716/1581549.html |archive-date=June 19, 2020 |access-date=October 22, 2021 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Before the [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04 season]] began, the Spurs lost their perennial captain David Robinson to retirement. Embracing the lone team leader role, Duncan led a reformed Spurs team which included [[Slovenia]]n center [[Rasho Nesterović]], defensive stalwart [[Bruce Bowen]], Argentinian shooting guard [[Manu Ginóbili]] and young French point guard [[Tony Parker]]. Coming off the bench were clutch shooting power forward [[Robert Horry]], versatile [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] and veterans Malik Rose and [[Kevin Willis]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003-04 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/2004.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329013851/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/2004.html |archive-date=March 29, 2020 |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In retrospect, Robinson commented that at first, Duncan was reluctant to step into the void, still needing some time to truly develop his leadership skills.<ref name="espn2007finals">{{Cite web |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=June 18, 2007 |title=Duncan says his fourth ring finest of all |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2905018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630071301/https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2905018 |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Statistically though, Duncan remained strong; after another convincing season with averages of 22.3 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.7 blocks,<ref name="stats"/> he led the Spurs into the [[2004 NBA Playoffs|Western Conference Semifinals]]. There, they met the Los Angeles Lakers again, split the series 2–2, and in Game 5, Duncan made a toughly defended jump shot which put the Spurs ahead by one point with 0.4 seconds left to play. Despite the little time remaining, Lakers point guard [[Derek Fisher]] hit a [[buzzer beater]], giving his team the win.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 13, 2004 |title=Spurs file protest, say clock was 'late' |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=240513024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211081823/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=240513024 |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2020 |work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=240513024|title=Box Score: Lakers at Spurs 74–73|work=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=May 13, 2004|access-date=June 30, 2020|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630071304/https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=240513024|url-status=live}}</ref> In the end, the Spurs lost the series 4–2, and Duncan attributed the strong Lakers defense as one of the reasons for the loss.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 15, 2004 |title=L.A. awaits Wolves-Kings winner |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=240515013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211082346/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=240515013 |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2020 |work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Duncan and his Spurs looked to re-assert themselves in the next [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05 season]]. Despite their new captain's slight statistical slump (20.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.6 blocks per game),<ref name="stats"/> the Spurs won the second seed for the [[2005 NBA playoffs]] by winning 59 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/standings/2004/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html|title=2004–05 Standings|work=NBA.com|access-date=September 6, 2007|archive-date=September 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905155736/http://www.nba.com/standings/2004/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the first round, the Spurs eliminated the [[Denver Nuggets]] four games to one, and met the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] in the semi-finals. After splitting the first four games, Duncan led his team to two decisive victories,<ref name="jockbio"/> setting up a meeting with the [[Phoenix Suns]], known for their up-tempo basketball. The Spurs managed to beat the Suns at their own game, defeating them 4–1<ref name="jockbio"/> and earning a spot in the [[2005 NBA Finals]] against the [[Detroit Pistons]]. In the Finals, Duncan was pitted against Detroit's defensively strong frontcourt anchored by multiple [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year]] [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]]. After two convincing Game 1 and 2 wins for the Spurs, the Pistons [[double team]]ed Duncan and forced him to play further from the basket.<ref name="jockbio"/> Detroit won the next two games and the series was eventually tied at 3–3, but Duncan was instrumental in Game 7, recording 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Spurs defeated the Pistons.<ref name="dethrone">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20050623/DETSAS/recap.html |title=Spurs Dethrone Pistons To Take Third NBA Title |work=NBA.com |date=June 23, 2005 |access-date=April 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219212308/http://www.nba.com/games/20050623/DETSAS/recap.html |archive-date=February 19, 2009}}</ref> NBA.com reported that "with his unique multidimensional talent, Duncan depleted and dissected the Pistons... He was the fulcrum of virtually every key play down the stretch", and coach Popovich added: "[Duncan's] complete game is so sound, so fundamental, so unnoticed at times, because if he didn't score, people think, 'Well, he didn't do anything'. But he was incredible and he was the force that got it done for us."<ref name="dethrone"/> Pistons center Ben Wallace remarked: "He put his team on his shoulders and carried them to a championship. That's what the great players do."<ref name="dethrone"/> Duncan won his third NBA Finals MVP Award, joining [[Michael Jordan]], Shaquille O'Neal, and [[Magic Johnson]] as the only players in NBA history to win it three times.<ref name="nbabio"/>

[[File:TD shooting over Andrew Bynum.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Duncan going up for a shot over the [[Los Angeles Lakers|Lakers]]' [[Andrew Bynum]]]]
During the [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06 season]], Duncan suffered from [[plantar fasciitis]] for most of the season,<ref>{{cite web|last=Allen|first=Marque|url=http://www.nba.com/spurs/doc/prognosis_060313.html|title=Prognosis Spurs: Plantar Fasciitis|work=NBA.com|date=March 13, 2006|access-date=August 12, 2007|archive-date=January 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111020531/http://www.nba.com/spurs/doc/prognosis_060313.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which was at least partly responsible for his sinking output (18.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocks per game), and also for his failure to make the All-NBA First Team after eight consecutive appearances.<ref name="stats"/> The big man came back strong in the [[2006 NBA playoffs]] against the Dallas Mavericks, where he outscored rival power forward [[Dirk Nowitzki]] 32.2 to 27.1 points, with neither Nowitzki nor Mavericks center [[Erick Dampier]] able to stop Duncan with their man-to-man defense.<ref name="damp">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20060522/DALSAS/recap.html|title=Nowitzki, Mavericks Outlast and Dethrone Spurs|work=NBA.com|date=May 22, 2006|access-date=May 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321160024/http://www.nba.com/games/20060522/DALSAS/recap.html|archive-date=March 21, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> But after splitting the first six games, Duncan became the tragic hero of his team in Game 7. Despite scoring 39 points in regulation time and fouling out both Dampier and [[Keith Van Horn]], Duncan only made one of seven field goal attempts in overtime against Mavericks reserve center [[DeSagana Diop]], and the Spurs lost Game 7.<ref name="damp"/>

The [[2006–07 NBA season|following season]], however, was another championship year for Duncan and the Spurs. Duncan averaged 20.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 blocks per game in the regular season,<ref name="stats"/> and was selected as a Western Conference starter for the [[2007 NBA All-Star Game]], his ninth appearance in the event. In [[2007 NBA Playoffs|the playoffs]], he led the Spurs to a 4–1 series win over the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs, a 4–2 win over the Phoenix Suns in the second round, and a 4–1 win against the [[Utah Jazz]] in the Western Conference Finals, setting up a meeting with the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] in [[2007 NBA Finals|the Finals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2007/series/index.html|title=At a Glance 2007|work=NBA.com|date=June 14, 2007|access-date=October 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123045352/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2007/series/index.html|archive-date=January 23, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> There, the Spurs swept the Cavaliers 4–0, earning Duncan his and San Antonio's fourth ever championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/finals2007/series/index.html|title=Parker, Spurs Close Out Cavs for Fourth Title|work=NBA.com|date=June 15, 2007|access-date=June 15, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111015439/http://www.nba.com/finals2007/series/index.html|archive-date=January 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Duncan proclaimed that that championship was "the best" of his four championships; however, he also acknowledged he played "sub-par" and thus received only one vote for NBA Finals MVP from a panel of ten.<ref name="espn2007finals" /> His colleagues were more appreciative of Duncan; among others, ex-teammate David Robinson referred to the Spurs titles as the "Tim Duncan era", and lauded his leadership. Coach Popovich also praised Duncan: "Tim is the common denominator. He's [had] a different cast around him [in] '99, '03 and '05. He's welcomed them all. ... But he is that easy to play with, and his skills are so fundamentally sound that other people can fit in."<ref name="espn2007finals" /> Then-NBA commissioner [[David Stern]] added: "[Duncan] is a player for the ages. I'm a tennis fan, and [[Pete Sampras]] is one of the greats. OK, he wasn't [[Andre Agassi]] or [[John McEnroe]]. He just happens to be one of the greatest players of all time. You take great players as you find them."<ref name="espn2007finals" />